Bill Kelso Indy Jackets ?

[ClaytonMoore]

I'm new to the forum, so here's my first thread,
Does anybody have any experience with Bill Kelso's various Indy jackets ?
They seem to be priced far lower than any of the other jackets Bill offers. Are they better or worse than Wested Indy jackets ?

El Dorado jacket - Bill Kelso Mfg.

This is the jacket worn by our heroic professor in his quest to find the city of gold in the 4th of his adventures. With this jacket on his back survived atomic explosions, commies, dry sand pits, collapsing temples, until he discovered, in South America, a crystal skull with mysterious powers...

billkelsomfg.com

 

[Xopher]

They are very much better than Wested, in my opinion

 

[dmoser1978]

They are very much better than Wested, in my opinion

Could you expand on your answer? Why do you think they are better?

 

[ClaytonMoore]

They are very much better than Wested, in my opinion

Do you own both ?

 

[Xopher]

I do not own either, but I have handled both in person. The leather just seems higher quality with the BK

 

[Edward]

I imagine much will depend on what you're prepared to spend. For an Indy, I have been very happy with a Wested Raiders in their goat. Much lighter than the Aero goat (which is one of my favourite hides), but perfectly robust in my experience. I would have liked a nicer zip puller, but that's being picky. If I was inclined to wear it as often as one of my Aeros I might have been prepared to spend more, though for what they cost, they really are very good in my experience. I should hope the BK is appreciably better in some way shape or form given it's +/- 250% the price, but really it's much more than I'd want to spend on this particular design. A big attraction of the Wested for me was that it didn't cost as much as my other jackets, and I can take it and wear it travelling places I might be less than keen to take an Aero which would really hurt if it did get lost / damaged / stolen.

 

[Caber]

You need to look at the steel and jones jacket as well.
I've owned both a BK and Wested. The Bk is way better fitting and a better quality leather.

 

[crism1]

wested started making legacy leather jackets, which are a bit more expensive than the regular ones but the leather itself is very good quality

 

[Edward]

wested started making legacy leather jackets, which are a bit more expensive than the regular ones but the leather itself is very good quality

Also worth considering fit & finish. The Hero version of the Raiders is much more tapered, sits off the shoulder, doesn't have leather facings backing the zip on the inside, and the collar sits differently, up off the back of the neck. The standard model, when it was first made for sale was "corrected" to better suit most folks as a functioning jacket, though the Indy hardcore prefer the Hero cut for screen accuracy. I might stick with the regular myself, not only for fit reasons. The standard model is available custom too, which allows for a wider choice in the range of hides. I had hoped post Covid to visit the Wested shop and get a sense of what these hides are like in person, but obviously that's not an option now. It would be interesting to see what zips they're working with these days; the only real complaint I have about the first one I picked up used was that the zip had a very modern looking puller that always just looked out of place to me.

They have a bit of information on the website about hides, though the pictures aren't loading for me:

Leather Guide – Wested Leather Co

Please note: Leather is a natural material so will vary in colour slightly, these images are simply to give you an idea of what the leather’s characteristics are like. This guide was created in November 2015 please bare that in mind for accuracy. We will try to update the guide every 6 – 12...

wested.com

Were I to order one again, I'd be very tempted to go for the novapelle. The goat has been nice; very light, think ELC goat rather than Aero, good for a leather I can wear in warmer weather. The one thing I would definitely do if doing a custom order would be to go for cotton lining in the sleeves instead of the satin, as if it does suddenly get warm, I found that got very sticky very quickly.

Only photo I can find of the Wested, from a day off at the tail end of a work trip in February 2013.

 

[ClaytonMoore]

Also worth considering fit & finish. The Hero version of the Raiders is much more tapered, sits off the shoulder, doesn't have leather facings backing the zip on the inside, and the collar sits differently, up off the back of the neck. The standard model, when it was first made for sale was "corrected" to better suit most folks as a functioning jacket, though the Indy hardcore prefer the Hero cut for screen accuracy. I might stick with the regular myself, not only for fit reasons. The standard model is available custom too, which allows for a wider choice in the range of hides. I had hoped post Covid to visit the Wested shop and get a sense of what these hides are like in person, but obviously that's not an option now. It would be interesting to see what zips they're working with these days; the only real complaint I have about the first one I picked up used was that the zip had a very modern looking puller that always just looked out of place to me.

They have a bit of information on the website about hides, though the pictures aren't loading for me:

Leather Guide – Wested Leather Co

Please note: Leather is a natural material so will vary in colour slightly, these images are simply to give you an idea of what the leather’s characteristics are like. This guide was created in November 2015 please bare that in mind for accuracy. We will try to update the guide every 6 – 12...

wested.com

Were I to order one again, I'd be very tempted to go for the novapelle. The goat has been nice; very light, think ELC goat rather than Aero, good for a leather I can wear in warmer weather. The one thing I would definitely do if doing a custom order would be to go for cotton lining in the sleeves instead of the satin, as if it does suddenly get warm, I found that got very sticky very quickly.

View attachment 452575

Only photo I can find of the Wested, from a day off at the tail end of a work trip in February 2013.

 

[dmoser1978]

How does the US Authentic Indy stack up to Wested, Aero, and BK?

https://www.flightjacket.com/indy-jacket.html

 

[Caber]

The one thing I would definitely do if doing a custom order would be to go for cotton lining in the sleeves instead of the satin, as if it does suddenly get warm, I found that got very sticky very quickly

I did cotton sleeves on a jacket once and it made a big difference in my opinion. I highly recommend listing to Edward's piece of wisdom

 

[Brettafett]

Edwards spot on.

BK is the creme de la creme; leather, pattern, detailing.... But you'll wait and you'll pay.

Wested's jacket are great on all levels, especially for the price.
Lots of options, depending what you're after.
I had the Hero Raiders in lamb, light and comfy.

No need to look elsewhere. If you want the best Indy repro, arguably... BK
If you want the next best, decent quality, detailing, etc... but best bang for the buck... Wested.